The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-12-16
Written for the MONITOR.
THE STUBBORN LOGIC OF FACTS.


BY MRS. FANNIE H. CARE.
An objection glibly urged against pro-
hibition is that it does not prohibit. Well
one thing is true beyond cavil, and that is
that whoever believes that prohibition
don't prohibit, it is evidently neither the
beer barons nor the whiskey oligarchy.
In their official organs (Which. by the way,
we suggest as the most effective kind of
temperance ammunition they give ocular
demonstration that they not only believe
prohibition death to their business where
1t prevails, but assure their constituency
in the strongest language, that unless they
bestir themselves, and that right speedily,
their craft soon take its place among
the lost arts. The president of the beer
congress in convention assembled made
the startling statement that whilst TWEEN
ty-five years since Maine manufactured
IL, 900 barrels of beer annually, to-day,
with large increase Of population, she
manufactures barrels. The unvanished
fact, what in court is called the 'fcold
truth, !" is that prohibition, where it hasn't
much more than half chance, is such a
success as to cause the guns of the enemies
to be leveled against it as the Gibraltar of
the position. That shrewd thinker and
keen observer, Jos. Cooke, says that when
''he finds what the saloon keeper don't
want. that's the thing be is going for. :"
Theresa whole mine of practical temper
ance philosophy in this terse sentence
which temperance workers would do we'll
to note. 1t has been matter of observa-
themselves have evinced friendly interest
in the Gospel phase of temperance work.
And the reason is not far to seek. These
miserable wrecks are mighty poor adj
vertisement of their business, to say moth
ing of the fact that their exchequer is in a
very low condition. As this is an age of
demonstration, suffer an object lesson
upon the same. 1t was my privilege to be
temperance addresses and my host gave
me graphic illustration upon the point
advanced He said that when the w. G..
| T. U. of the place was organized he be-
came an honorary member and was reg
ular attendant at their meetings, doing
what he could to promote the organization.
But the stubborn logic of facts" convinc-
him that when by dint of prayer and effort
the omen had succeeded in reforming a
man, it would be in many instances but a
short time until he would be back again to
his old habits and possibly the good clothes
that had replaced the old rags pawned
and the proceeds in the till of the saloon
keeper. This state of things confirmed
him in the opinion that the objective point
of all intelligent temperance effort was the
overthrow of the liquor traffic, and hence
his purpose was formed to devote his en-
ergies toward this desirable consummation.
! The leading hotel keeper of the place, who,
by the way, was one of the best customers
of my friend, who, being a meat packer,
etc., supplied the former with articles in
his line for the latter's boarders, said: II
don't propose dealing with you any longer.
| used to think You level-headed man
and You were doing good work when at
tending the Gospel temperance meetings,
but now you speak of my business as
though it were that of a pick pocket" and
continuing said, "send me my bill and
| will pay it, but not another cent will you
get from me.'' "All right" said our
friend, Mr.. -, Il don't sell my princi-
pies, l sell pork" Beside the saloon
keeper predicted that in six months oui
temperance advocate would come to grief,
financially. On the day of the prophesy
he recorded the same in his ledger, and in
ak months. after taking account of stock,
he found that his business had increased
30 per cent, and in the same ledger he in
serted the following terse comment: ''St
much for rum-sellers prophesy.' AS We
contemplate the ravages of rum upon every
side we ache in our desires that the scales
may fall from eyes that now clamor fol
the regulation of the traffic and that they
may see that they might as well attemp
to regulate cyclone or an earthquake al
to regulate an evil which is more disastrous
than war, pestilence and famine combined